Fewer Ohio kindergarten students met vaccine requirements for the 2024-2025 school year

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 5/9 11:53A Sarah Buduson

Fewer Ohio kindergarten students are meeting state requirements for vaccinations, according to data obtained from the Ohio Department of Health. Ohio requires all students entering kindergarten to be vaccinated against dangerous diseases,...

CDC reports over 1,000 measles cases in 2025, Texas hardest hit

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 5/8 1:59A Scripps News Group

U.S. measles cases have reached another grim milestone this year, surpassing 1,000, according to new analysis based on data from the CDC and state health departments. Many of the cases are linked to an outbreak in West Texas, but most states have...

Ohio families waiting at least a year for autism diagnosis specialist appointments

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 5/7 9:00A Clay LePard

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday new plans to research the causes of autism using data from Medicare and Medicaid. Were pulling back the curtain, with full...

Coalition of 19 states ask federal judge to reverse deep cuts to US Health and Human Services

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 5/5 7:18A AP via Scripps News Group

Attorneys general in 19 states and Washington, D.C., are challenging cuts to the U.S. Health and Human Services agency, saying the Trump administration's massive restructuring has destroyed life-saving programs and left states to pick up the bill...

Flu deaths among US children reach 15-year high, CDC reports

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 5/3 3:20A Scripps News Group

More U.S. children have died as a result of the flu this season than in the past 15 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC reported 12 pediatric flu deaths for the week ending April 26, bringing the...

HHS to mandate placebo testing on 'all new vaccines'

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 5/1 6:45A Scripps News Group

The U.S. Department of Health and Human services says it will require all new vaccines to be tested in placebo-controlled trials before they can be licensed for use. According to an HHS spokesperson, this policy change reflects Health Secretary...

Florida poised to become 2nd state to ban fluoride from public drinking water

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/30 2:15A Scripps News Group

Florida is set to eliminate fluoride from public water systems after lawmakers passed a bill on Tuesday that indirectly bans the substance. The legislation, SB 700 also referred to as the Florida Farm Billdoes not explicitly mention fluoride, but...

Kennedy's hopes for swift autism research answers on hold

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/23 2:25A Justin Boggs

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had said that he expected to have answers by the fall on why the number of autism diagnoses has increased in recent years. But it appears Kennedy will have to wait a little longer....

Women and low-income families hit hardest by increasing rates of depression

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/16 8:36A Scripps News Group

A new study found that depression rates among adolescents and adults are rising, with most cases going untreated. revealed that 13% of people age 12 and older experienced symptoms of depression, up from 8% compared to data from 10 years ago....

RFK Jr. disputes CDC conclusion on why autism rates have jumped in US

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/16 4:03A Justin Boggs

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday addressed a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that found that 1 in 31 children born in 2014 were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. "There are many...

CDC says it can't help with lead exposure crisis in Milwaukee schools because of layoffs

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/14 9:59A Scripps News Group

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told health officials in Wisconsin it could not help with an ongoing lead exposure investigation because the Trump administration had eliminated its response team. In an email obtained by the Scripps...

Measles cases surge to six-year high with over 700 confirmed in 24 states

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/14 8:06A Scripps News Group

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports a troubling rise in measles cases across the United States, with over 700 confirmed cases in 24 states. This marks the highest number of cases recorded in six years and reflects an increase...

Alabama woman has pig kidney removed after record 130 days

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/14 6:13A Scripps News Group

An Alabama woman who received a pig kidney transplant had the organ removed after her body began rejecting it. Towana Looney lived with the kidney for a record 130 days before it was taken out on April 4 at NYU Langone Health in New York, doctors...

Travel and outbreaks: Should you vaccinate your child earlier for measles?

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/10 8:44A Justin Boggs

A measles outbreak spanning multiple states has already surpassed 600 cases, and experts say it might only be the beginning. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there have been at least 607 confirmed measles cases in 2025 across...

US flagship HIV/AIDS prevention program faces shaky future: ‘PEPFAR was never meant to go forever’

News 5 Cleveland (Your Health Matters) 4/8 9:50A Kadia Tubman

Public health advocates on Tuesday warned a House subcommittee against a 'chaotic, rapid retreat' by the U.S. from a flagship global HIV/AIDS initiative a program that has saved over 25 million lives. We have the opportunity to have not only the...